The Department of Human Services (DHS), in partnership with The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness and the Metropolitan Police Department, will celebrate the launch of the third annual Youth Count DC on Friday, September 22, 2017 with live entertainment and youth-centered activities at the RFK Skate Park.

This free festival-styled event will feature local music artists, food and activities to raise awareness about the youth census, an annual count of young people aged 24 and younger who are experiencing homelessness. Local community-based organizations and youth service providers will participate by sharing information and resources with attendees.

Youth Count DC will be conducted September 22—September 30, 2017 this year, and will provide a comprehensive picture of the number of youth experiencing homelessness, the characteristics of these youth, and their pathways into homelessness in order to inform service delivery. “The youth census is critical to our efforts to end youth homelessness in the District by 2020. Through data driven planning and a keen focus on the unique needs of young adults, we can make homelessness among District youth, rare, brief, and non-recurring,” said DHS Director Laura Zeilinger.

Some added improvements to service delivery since the District began conducting the youth census in 2015 include:

More than $3 million to support capacity enhancement at every level, including emergency shelter, short-term crisis beds, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for our most vulnerable youth